Chain-stitch sewing machine



CHAIN-STITCH SEWING MACHINE Filed Jan. l.'50, 1940 v 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 2" 1943. F F, zElER 2,312,858

CHAIN-STITCH SEWING MACHINE Filed Jani 30, 1940 4 7 SheAetS-Sheet 2 Hederz'e E' ZeL'eP Mal'Ch 2 F ZEER CHAIN-STITCH SEWING MACHINE Filed Jan. so, 1940 7 SheeS-Sheet 5 '.March 2 1943. F, F yzElEpQ CHAIN-STITCH SEWING MACHINE Filed Jan. 30, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 2 1943. F, F, 2E|ER CHAIN-,STITCH SEWING vlvIACHINE 7 sheets-shea 5 Filed Jan. v15C), 1940 March 2 1943. F. F. zL-:IER 2,312,858

CHAIN-STITCH SEWING MACHINE Filed Jah. 30, 1940 l'i' Sheets-Sheet 6 lume/Mofo ederic E Zez'er Filed Jan. 30, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 @menac @Za-r Patented Mar. 2, .1943

` CHAIN-STITCH SEWING MACHINE Frederick F. Zeler, Fairfield, Conn., assigner to The Singer Manufacturing Company,

Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application-January 30, 1940, Serial No. 316,297

15 Claims.

This invention relates to sewing machines.

. more particularly of the needle-feed chain-stitch type, and has for an object to provide an organized sewing machine ofthe type in question having eiciently functioning mechanisms enabling it to be commercially operated at speeds in excess of 4000 stitches per minute, without undue wear and tear on the parts.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved and simplified looper mechanism having means for shifting the looper from its normal operative position to a position forwardly of the stitching point-where the looper thread-eye is convenient for threading.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel latching device which is automatically operated during the retraction of the looper to lock the lower main-shaft of the machine against rotation until the looper is returned to its normal operative position.

These and other objects will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings, which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the inventionz.

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View of a sewing machine. showing the inner workings thereof and more particularly the pressure lubricating system therefor.

Fig. 2 is a front end elevation with the bed and work-supporting plate in section.

Fig. 3 is a rear side elevation of the sewing machine with a portion of the drip-pan broken away and the bed in section to illustrate the detent for assisting in adjusting the eccentricity of the feed-eccentric for the lower four-motion feeding mechanism.

Fig. 4 isa top plan view of the machine-bed with the standard of the machine-frame in section and the work-supporting plate removed from the bed to expose the mechanism Within the same.

Fig. 5 is a front side elevation of the machinebed and drip-pan, showing the manner in which the latter is suspended from the table structure and the resilient support of the machine-bed upon the drip-pan.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the standard of the machine, showing the preferred location of the lubricating pump and the inlet and outlet conduits therefor.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 1-1, Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged front end elevation oi' the bed, showing the loopers in their operative position in full lines and in their retracted or threading position in dotted lines.

Fig. 9 is a view, partly in section, of the spring-biased detent for maintaining the loop- I ers in their normal operative position.

Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical sectional view tal-:en substantially along the line I0-I0, Fig. 4.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary top plan view of the looper and spreader, illustrating the looper just entering the needle-thread-loop during the loopseizing stroke of the needle.

Fig. 12 is a right hand elevational view, partly in section of the elements shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 11, but showing the looper at the end of its loop-seizing stroke and the spreader engaging one limb of the looper-thread-loop preparatory to distending the same for entrance by the needle on its next workpenetrating stroke. i

Fig. 14 is a righthand elevational view, partly in section of the elements shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 13, but showing the looper retracting to shed the needlethread-loop and the looper-thread-loop fully distended by the spreader.

Fig. 16 is a right hand elevational view, partly in section of the elements shown in Fig. 15.

The detailed description which follows is broken down into sections and each individual mechanism of the sewing machine willllbeldiscussed under the appropriate sub-title.:

Frame and general structure The hollow machine-frame, which is preferably cast in two sections, comprises a rectangular bed I from one end of which. rises a standard 2 of an overhanging bracket-arm 3 terminating in a head 4.

The rectangular bed I (Fig. 4), is composed of vertically disposed front and rear walls 5 and 6. and end walls 1 and 8. Intermediate the end walls 'I and 8 are two transverse dividing walls 9 and Il) which separate the bedy I intoindividual compartments II, I2 andy I3. Disposed in compartments II and I2 are the stitch-forming mechanism and the feeding mechanism, .together with connections for actuating the same. Each of the vthree compartments II, I 2' and I3 is opened at the bottom to permit the precipitation of spent oil, lint and dirt from the mechanism Within these compartments. l The end wall 8 of the bed adjacentthe front wallA 5 is formed with an oil reservoir I4, see Figs. 4 and 6, closed at its lower end by means of a gasket-fitted plate I5 and adapted to be filled through an oil-cup I6 threaded into the side-wall of the reservoir I4. Secured also in the side-wall of the reservoir is a transparent window I1 through which the level of the oil in the reservoir may be observed.

Secured upon the rear. end-portion of the bed I is the standard 2 of the bracket-arm 3 (Fig.`

1), the open face of which standard is adapted to be closed by a cover-plate I 8 secured by screws I9. Formed integral with the upper end of the standard 2 is the bracket-arm 3 provided at the standard end with an internal partition 20, at its head end with an internal partition 2l and intermediate the partitions 28 and 2| with a depending boss 22. The partitions 20 and 2| define a compartment 23 housing the actuating eccentric and the stitch-length indicating disk of the needle feeding mechanism. Access within the compartment 23 is gained by removal of the cover-plate 24 fastened by screws 25 to the rear of the bracket-arm 3. The partitions 20 and 2| provide supports for a commercial needle-bearing 26 and ball-bearing 21 in which is journaled the main or arm-shaft 28. To lend support to the arm-shaft and to prevent whipping thereof, the depending boss 22 is fitted with a second needlebearing 29 embracing a sleeve 30 clamped to rotate with the main-shaft between anipper actuating cam 3| and the hub 32 of a stitch-length indicating disk 33.

The internal partition 20, Fig. 1, is preferably formed with an elongated bearing boss 34 having a bore 35 snugly receiving the outer casing of the needle-bearing 26, which bearing embraces a sleeve 36 clamped upon the arm-shaft 28 to rotate therewith between a collar 31 and the inner end of the hub 38 of a belt-sprocket 39. Fixed upon the end of the arm-shaft 28 in faceto-face contact with the hub 38 of the beltsprocket 39 is the usual belt-driven balancewheel 40.

Longitudinally of the bed I there is journaled in needle-bearings 4|, 42 and 43, the lower rotary main-shaft 44 having secured upon the inner end thereof a belt-sprocket 45 of the same diameter as the belt-sprocket 39. These twol belt-sprockets 39 and 45 are connected together by means of a conventional clip-belt 46 to rotate at a ratio of one-to-one. It will be observed in Fig. 1 that the needle-bearing 4I supports the inner end-portion of the lower main-shaft 44 in a manner identical with that of the hereinbefore described mounting for the needle-bearing 26 on the arm-shaft 28 and, therefore, no further description of the mounting for the needle-bearing 4| is believed necessary. The

structure the surface of the work-supporting plate 49 is adapted to be substantially flush with the table-top. This is accomplished by resting the four corners of the machine-bed I, which are apertured as at 50', upon resilient pads 5I, such as rubber, neoprene, or the like, fitted with locating pins'52 adapted to enter the apertures 50'. ,The resilient pads 5I are suitably fastened upon posts 53 rising from the side-walls of an opentopped box-like drip-pan 54. The drip-pan has preferably integral therewith three horizontally projecting lugs 55, two at the standard end of the machine and one centrally of the head end of the machine, apertured as at 56, to receive the lower ends of suspension bolts 51 depending from the table-top T. Interposed between the upper face of each of the lugs 55 and the -table-top T is a resilient pad 58 and disposed between the lower face of each of the lugs and the nut on the suspension bolts 51 is a second resilient pad 59. The resilient pads 5I, 58 and 59 are provided to dampen vibrations set up in the machine during high speed operation.

From the above description, it will be understood that a machine frame is provided in which al1 the mechanisms housed thereby are conveniently accessible for assembly and repair, and that the machine is supported in such a way upon the drip-pan 54 that vibrations in the machine are effectively dampened.

- .3 is the usual head 4 which is of substantially conventional form. Pivotally hung preferably upon a stud 60, see Figs. 1 and 2, secured by a needle-bearing 42 is located in the transverse wall I 0 of the bed I and embraces a sleeve 46' clamped upon the lower main-shaft 44 to rotate therewith between two collars 41 and 48. Needle-bearing 43 is mounted in the transverse wall 9 of the bed I in a manner differing only from needle-bearing 42 in that the sleeve embraced by the needle-bearing is clamped between the feed-advance eccentric and the feed-lift eccentric;` both of which are later described. The main-shaft 44 at its forward end-portion has securedy thereto a plurality of eccentrics and a suitable crank for actuating the mechanism located within the bed I. V Y

Referring now to Figs. 1, 5 and 6, it will be seen that the bed is provided with a detachably secured work-supporting plate 49 formed with a cut-out to receive the usual throat-plate 50. When the machine -is mounted upon a tablescrew 6I in the top of the head 4 is a vibratory frame 62 formed with two spaced lugs 63 in which is journaled, for endwise reciprocation, a needlebar 64 carrying at its lower end needles B5. The lower end of the vibratory frame 62 is steadied inl its movement in the line of feed by an L-shaped bracket 66 which is secured to the machine-head preferably by screws 61. Clamped upon the needle-bar 64 intermediate the lugs 63 is the usual split collar 68 having a hollow pin 69 connected by a tubular link 10 to a hollow crankpin 1I integral with a crank 12 secured upon the end of the arm-shaft 28.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the upper end of the tubular link 10 is elongated to receive two needle-bearings 13, the rollers of which engage the crank-pin 1 I. To maintain the needle-bearings in place and the tubular link 18 upon the hollow crank-pin 1I, there is provided in the bore of the latter a stud 14 having a relatively large head 15 and a reduced shank 16 engaged by the inner end of a setscrew 11 threaded into the crank 12. The stud 14, in addition to providing a convenient means for assembling the link 10 upon the crank-pin 1I, also facilitates the distribution of lubricant from the bore of the arm-shaft to the bearing at the lower end of the tubular link 10. This feature will be described more in detail hereinafter under the section devoted to lubrication.

To assist in feeding the work through the ma.- chine, the needle is adapted to be vibrated in the line of feed in timed relation with the lower feeding element. The vibratory movement of the needle is derived from an adjustable eccentric 18 mounted upon the arm-shaft 28 through connections clearly disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3. Embracthe upper end of a vertically disposed rock-lever 80 clamped at its lower end upon the end of a rock-shaft 8| journaled in a bushing 82 fixed in the lug 82 on the rear wall of the head 4. Pinned, or otherwise secured, upon the other end of the rock-shaft 8| is the upper end of the depending lever 83 connected at its lower end by a horizontal link 84 to the lower end of the vibratory frame 62.

To provide for changing the amplitude of vibration of the needle, i. e., to change the length of stitch, provision must be made to permit adjustmentof the amount of vibratory movement imparted to the needle. In the present case, the eccentric is constructed so that its eccentricity may be conveniently adjusted to give the desired stitch-length. The constructive features of the adjustable eccentric 18 used in the machine chosen for illustrationgneed not herein be described, since the eccentric is disclosed and claimed in the United States patent to W. Myers, No. 2,128,- 031, issued Aug. 23, 1938. To assist in effecting adjustment of the eccentric 18, there is provided in the top of the bracket-arm 3 a detent 85 which is adapted to be depressed by the operator and to enter a suitable stop-notch 86 in the adjusting member of the eccentric 18, permitting the operator to turn the balance-wheel 40 and adjust the eccentricity of the eccentric. The structural details of the detent 85 will not be described in detail, since it is disclosed in the United States patent to W. Myers, No. 2,063.264. dated Dec. 8, 1936, but its operation in connection with the present arrangement will be more fully described later in this specification in connection with the lower four-motion feeding mechanism.

As described above, it will be understood that as the arm-shaft 28 is rotated the needle-bar 64 is reciprocated endwise and at the same time is vibrated in the line of feed by the eccentric 10 and the connections actuated thereby.

Lower feeding mechanism The lower four-motion feeding mechanism, which operates in synchronism with the needlefeed, is best shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 10. It comprises a feed-advance and -return rock-shaft. 81 journaled in two bushings 88 and 89 fixed in the walls 1 and 9, respectively, of the bed i. Clamped upon the inner end of the rock-shaft 81 is a depending rock-lever 90, the lower end of which is connected by a forwardly extending pitman 9| to an adjustable eccentric 92 upon the lower main-shaft 44. The elements of the eccentric 92 are identical with the eccentric 18 on the upper main-shaft previously referred to in the description of the needle-bar mechanism. Secured by screws 93 upon the outer end-portion of the rockshaft 81 is the usual upstanding feed-rocker 90 freely journaled in its upper end a fulcrum-bar 95. Fixed upon the fulcrurn-rod 95 by the setscrews 96 is the bifurcated end of a feed-bar 91 formed with a vertically disposed channel 98 (Fig. l), adapted to receive the shank 99 of a forwardly extending feed-dog |00 clamped in vertically adjusted position by a screw |0| threaded into the feed-bar 91. The feed-dog |00 is maintained in its properly adjusted position by a screw |02 threaded into the feed-bar 91 and disposed beneath an offset |03 formed on the feed-bar. In order to eliminate bending of the needles during the feeding stroke, the feed-dog is formed with two needle-receiving apertures |04, the rear sides of which engage the blades of the needles 65 and back the same up during feeding of the w'ork.

The risingland-falling movements are imparted to the feed-dog |00 by lan eccentric |05 se- 5 cured upon the lower main-shaft 44 adjacent the dividing wall 9 ofA the bed I. Embracing the eccentric |05 is a strap |06 having formed integral therewith a transverse sleeve |01 affording a socket in which is slidably tted a pin |08 se- 10 cured in a lug |09 cast integral with the inner end of the feed-bary 91. Rotation of the lower main-shaft 44 oscillates the feed-bar 81 through the pin-and-sleeve connection about the axis of the fulcrum-bar 95, thus raising and lowering the l5 feed-dog |00 in timed relation with the advanceand-return movements imparted to the feed-,dog by the eccentric 92.

In a machine having a needle-feed andl a lower feeding mechanism, each deriving its work-advancing movements from independent adjustable Y.

eccentrics, means must be providedto enable the needle-feed and the lower feeding mechanism to remain in unison during the adjustment of the stitch-length. In Figs. land 3, it will .5 be observed that the adjusting element of. the

eccentric 92 .is held stationary by means of a detent H0 provided in a plate Ill underlying the work-supporting plate `49. The detent is normally spring-biased into elevated position and is adapted to be manually depressed into a stop-notch ||2 cut into the adjustingA element of the veccentric 92.I When it is desired to adjust 'the stitch-length of the machine, the balancewheel 00 is manually turned until lthe ldetent 05 on the bracket-arm 3 registers with the stopnoteh 86 in the eccentric 18 of the needle-feed, in which position the detent is depressed and urned slightly, thereby lockingthesame in latching position. This leaves one hand ofthe 40 operator free so that the detent ||0 for the adjustable eccentric 92 upon the lower main-shaft 44 may be manually depressed while the balancewheel 00 is turned with the other hand of the operator until the required amount of eccen- 45 tricitv has been obtained. To resume sewing.

the detent ||0 is released. as is also the detent P5. Itis obvious from the above description that efficient means have been provided whereby' the separate eccentrics for the needle-feed and lower feeding mechanism may be concomitantly adjusted to vary the eccentricities thereof. To facilitate the adjustment of the eccentrics to the proper st'tch-length, there is fixed upon the armshfift 28 the stitch-length indicating disk 33 having inscribed on its periphery suitable indicia in position for convenient observation through an aperture (not shown) in the front Wall of the. bracket-arm 3.

Lo0pe1l mechanism loop-seizing motion beingin a direction opposite to the direction of the feed of the Work through the machine. In the present disclosure, the lwopetI mechanism' comprises two loopers H3, see 1, 2. 4 and-8, each having a cylindrical 0 shank H4 fixedly clamped by a screw ||5 in a carrier IIB. The carrier is formed with a shank i I1 fastened by a tongue-and-groove connectie-n and a clamping screw ||8 to the face of Ian upstanding lug ||9 formed integral with 7 5 a supporting sleeve |20 freely journaled upon a fulcrum-rod |2|. Clamped by means of a screw |22 upon the inner end-portion of the sleeve' is a split-strap |23 having formed integral therewith a transverse follower-sleeve |24 adapted to slidably receive the free end of a tubular pin |25. The tubular pin |25 at its other end is formed with a head |26 embracing a. crank-pin |21 projecting from a crank ,|28 fixed upon the outer` end of the lower main' shaft-44. The follower-sleeve |24 is preferably clamped upon the supporting sleeve |20 to provide means for adjusting the points of the loopers ||3 toward and away from the needles 65, and also to adjust the paths of travel'of the loopers laterally of the needles.

The looper actuating mechanism above described imparts to the loopers ||3 a variable motion of such a character as to render the looper mechanism particularly applicable to a needle-.feed machine.

In order to facilitate threading the4 loopers, means is provided whereby the loopers can be shifted to a pointforwardly of the stitching point and to a lower level beneath the throatplate 50. This means is best disclosed in Figs.

l1, 2, 8 and 9. The supporting sleeve |20 is freely journaled upon the fulcrum-rod |2| and is adapted to be oscillated thereon by the crank l, |28 through the pin-and-sleeve connections |24 and |25. The fulcrum-rod |2| is provided at its opposite ends with enlarged eccentrically disposed portions |30 and |3|, the latter of which is secured removably to the body of the fulcrumrod .I2I by the screws |32 for convenience in assembling the parts. 1 The enlarged portion |3| is journaled in the dividing wall 9 of the bed and the enlarged portion |30 is formed with a reduced portion |33 having its longitudinal axis in `alinement with the longitudinal axis of the enlarged portion |30, the reduced portion |33 being journaled in a bushing |34 iixed in the end-wall 1 of the bed. During normal sewing, the longitudinal axis of the fulcrum-rod |2| lies in the vertical plane containing the axes of the eccentrically disposed portions |3| and |33, this position being best shown in Figs. 2 and 8. When it is desired to retract the loopers for convenient threading the eccentrically disposed portions |3| and |33 are turned in a clockwise direction (Fig. 8) approximately 150 degrecs about their longitudinal axes, thus swinging the fulcrum-pin |2|, the supporting sleeve |20 and the looper carrier N9 into the position illustratedin dotted lines in Fig. 8. In this position the loopers are conveniently accessible for threading.

It will be observed that the fulcrum-rod 2| and its end-sections |30 and 3| are constructed for convenient assembly. The end-section |30 (Fig. 1) is formed with a portion |33 of reduced diameter providing a shoulder adapted to bear against the inner end-face of the bearing bushing |34, and mounted on the outer end of the reduced portion |33 is a disk |35 the inner face of which bears against the outer end-face of the bushing |34. The shoulder on the section |30 and the inner face of the disk |35 engage between them the opposite end-faces of the bearing bushing |34 and thereby effectively confine the fulcum-rod |2| against endwise displacement.

Novel means is provided for turning the eccentrically disposed portions |3| and |33 aboutv their longitudinal axes. This means comprises a disk |35 fastened upon the end o! the reduced portion |33 of the fulcrum-rod |2| and having a section of its periphery formed with teeth |36 adapted to mesh with a rack |31 cut into the lower cylindrical surface of a retracting-rod |38 endwise shiftable in the end-wall 1. At its outer end the retracting-rod |38 is tted with a knurled head |39, whereby it may be conveniently grasped by the hand of the operator. To limit endwise movement of the retracting-rod the latter is fitted with a stop-screw |40 which engages the inner end of the retracting-rod bearing provided in the end-wall 1 of the bed Referring to Fig. 9, it will be observed that a spring-biased detent is employed to maintain the loopers in their proper operative position. This detent preferably includes a taper-headed plunger |4| seated in an aperture |42 in the end-wall 1 of the bed land backed up by a coil-spring |43 which biases the tapered head of the plunger |4| into a suitable recess in the disk |35. To retain the plunger I 4| in the aperture |42 during assembly, the body of the plunger is annularly recessed, as at |44, to receive the inner end of a screw |45 which limits endwise movement of the plunger |4|.

From the above description it will be understood that the loopers are sifted into retracted position to facilitate the threading thereof by simply pulling the knurled head |39 of theretracting-rod |38 outwardly, thereby turning the disk |35 in a ,clockwise direction and swinging the fulcrum-rod |2| about the axes of the eccentrically disposed portions |3| and |33. The initial turning movement of the disk |35 depresses the spring-biased plunger |4|, the end of the plunger bearing against the inner face of the disk |35 during the remainder of its turning'movement. To'reposition the loopers for sewing, the retracting-rod |38 is pushed -inwardly until the plunger 4| enters its recess in the face of the disk |35 in which position the loopers are in their normal sewing relation. When the loopers yare in retracted position, inadvertent operation of the machine would result in injury to various of the parts. To eliminate this danger a locking expedient is provided which prevents operation of the machine when the loopers are in retracted position. Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 10, the locking expedient comprises a latch |46 fulcrumed freely upon the end-portion of a stationary rod |41 i'lxed in the dividing walls 9 and |0 of the bed I. The latch 46, when the loopers are in operative position, is yieldingly maintained by a coilspring |48 in contact with an inclined cam-surface |49, see Fig. 10, cut into the eccentrically disposed portion 3| of the fulcrum-rod |2|. When the eccentrically disposed portion |3| is turned, under the action of the retracting-rod 30 when shifting the loopers into inoperative position, the latch |46 is swung about the longitudinal axis of the stationary rod |41 by the cam-surface |49 and the free end of the latch when in register with a stop-notch |50 in the looper-actuating crank |28, see Fig. 2, enters the same and locks the lower main-shaft 44 of the machine against rotation. The machine remains so locked until the loopers are shifted back into operative position.

The loopers ||3 used in the machine chosen for illustration are of special construction. Referring to Figs. 2, 13and 14, it will be observed that each of the loopers ||3 is substantially C-shaped. The upper limb of the looper constitutes the blade or needle-loop engaging por.

' tion |5I, and the lower limb constitutes the body |52 from which extends a needle-guide |53 and the cylindrical looper-supporting shank |I4. The blade I I adjacent; the beak thereof is formed with a thread-eye |54 which enters through the side-wall of the blade and emerges from the top of the blade, see Figs. 13 and 14. At the rear end of the blade there is provided a threadslot |55 which opens into the top of the blade to facilitate the introduction of the looper-thread into the same when threading the looper. Extending from the body |52 of the looper is a needle-guide |53 which is so constructed that when the looper is disposed at the end of its loop-seizing stroke, the needle on its next workpenetrating stroke after passing through the needle-aperture |04 in the feed-dog |00 will engage the needle-guide |53 and remain in contact therewith during the feeding stroke of the needle and until the looper ||3 again advances and seizes the thread-loop cast out by the needle during the initial part of its withdrawal stroke. The engagement of the needle-guide by the needle definitely positions the latter with respect to the advancing beak of the looper and insures that the needle-thread-loop will be seized by the looper, and that the needle will not be deilected into the path of the advancing looperbeak and consequently broken. In addition to the provision of the integral needle-guide, the particular formation' cf the thread-eye |54 so that it emerges from the top of the looper-blade instead of from the side thereof is'advantageous in that it encourages the proper presentation of the looper-thread-loop Lr, Fig. 14, to a transversely reciprocatory spreader later to be described. The advantage of the novel arrangement of the thread-eye in the looper will be more fully discussed in connection with the spreader mechanism. y

Spreader mechanism To assist in stitch-formation, the two-motion loopers ||3 each has cooperating therewith a spreader |56 which is adapted to distend the looper-thread to form the usual triangle with the previous needle-thread loop for entrance by the descending needle. The spreaders |56 are preferably rigidly fastened to a fiat carrier-plate |51 adjustably secured at its ends upon alined endwise movable supporting rods |58 and |59. The supporting rod |58 is journaled in the end-wall 1 of the bed I and the supporting rod |59 is jour- 'naled in the dividing wall 9. Attached for endwise adjustment upon the other end of the supporting rod |59 is a head |60, Fig. 4, having a laterally projecting cross-pin |6| connected by a link |62 to the upper end of a rock-arm |63l integral with a transverse sleeve |64. This sleeve is preferably journaled upon a rod |65 fixed at its opposite ends in the walls 5 and 6 of the bed I. Projecting horizontally from the sleeve |64 at the end remote from the rock-arm |63 is a second rock-arm |66 in the form of a short rod supporting a ball |61 adapted to be received in a split socket |68 provided in the upper end of a relatively short pitman |69 actuated by an eccentric secured upon the lower main-shaft 44. To steady the carrier-plate |51 and prevent the same from turning about the axes of the supporting rods |58 and |59, the free end of the cross-pin |6| is adapted to slide in a guideslot |1| cut into the end `of the rod |12 fixed in the dividing wall 9. v

|56 is reciprocated crosswise ofthe line of seam formation at the proper time to spread the thread leading from the looper-eye to form the usual thread triangle with the previous needle-loop which is about the blade of the looper for proper entrance by the descending needle. The functioning of the spreader |56 is illustrated in Figs. 11 to 16, inclusive. In Figs. 11 and 12. the needle 65, after reaching the lowermost point of its stroke, has begun its ascending stroke and has cast out a thread-loop N'r which is just being entered by the beak of the looper I 5I. During this part of the stitch-forming cycle, the spreader |56 does not perform any useful function. Figs. 13 and 14 disclose the looper at the end of its loop-seizing stroke and the needle at the highest point of its stroke. It will be seen that the spreader |56 has engaged a limb of the looper-thread LT and is preparing to carry said limb to a position further tothe left. Figs. 15

and 16 disclose the looper I5| retracting to shed the needle-thread-loop Nr, the needle 65 descending to enter the thread triangle and the spreader |56 at the end of its loop-distending stroke.

It will be observed from Figs. 11 to 16, inclusive, that the spreader |56 materially aids in the formation of the stitches and that should the spreader, for any reason, fail to engage and distend the looper-thread Lr, proper stitch-formation will fail. In a needle-feed machine, wherein the usual needle aperture is not stationary but is formed in the feed-dog and shifts back and forth in the line of feed, it has been found desirable to form the looper with a threadeye entering the side of the looper-blade and emerging from the topof the looper-blade adjacent the beak. In the preferred construction of the looper, as shown in Figs. 11 to 16, inclusive, the vertical -face adjacent the looper-beak terminates at its upper edge into a fiat, substantially horizontal, top surface. The thread-eye or duct |54 enters through the vertical face and emerges from the fiat top and is formed so that for a portion of its length adjacent the delivery end the thread-duct |54 extends into the looper-blade in a vertical plane. It is desirable to so construct the looper, because, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, when the spreader |56 moves to engage the limb of the looper-thread L'r, the feed-dog |00 is moving to the left. This movement of the feed-dog creates slack in the limb of the looper-thread Lr which is'to be engaged by the spreader |56, rendering the limb of thread uncontrolled and susceptible of falling out of range of the spreader |56. By arranging the thread-eye so thatvit emerges from the top of the looper with a portion of the body of the thread-eye 4extending `substantially vertically into the looper-blade or, in other words, in a mechanism to make a longer stitch.

The eccentric |10 is timed so that the spreader 75 Presser-foot lifting mechanism Opposed to the feed-dog |00 is the usual presser-foot |13, Figs. 2 and '3. having a shank v |14 secured to the lowerend of a relatively short presser-bar |15 Journaled in a bushing |16 fixed in the machine-head 4. At its upper end the presser-,bar |15 is engaged by the free end of a leaf-spring |11 secured at its other end by a screw |18 to the bracket-arm 3. The tension of the leaf-spring is regulated by an adjusting screw Clamped upon the presser-bar |15 adjacent its upper end ls a split-collar |80 formed with a rearwardly extending and laterally disposed guide-arm |8|, the free end of which extends into a guide-slot |82 deiined by two parallel arranged members |83 and |84 secured at their opposite ends by screws |85 to the machinehead 4. The guide-arm |8I, in addition to preventing the presser-bar |15 from turning in the bushing |16, overlies the usual hand-controlled presser-foot lifting lever |86 pivotally mounted upon a lug |81 integral with the machine-head 4.

Treadle-controlled means is also provided .for raising and lowering thepresser-foot. Underlying the presser-bar guide-arm |8| is the bent lower end of a depending wire link |88 pivoted at its upper end upon one arm of an anglelever |89 fulcrumed upon a stud |90 on the ma- |19 threaded into the bracket-arm 3.-

chine-head 4. Connected to the other limb of the angle-lever |89 is one end of a horizontal wire-link |9| whose other end is connected to a lever arm |92 fulcrumed upon a stud |83 on the bracket-arm 3. Formed integral with the hub of the lever-arm |92 is an inclined block 94 channeled to detachably receive an actuating lever |95 connected by a chain |98 to a suitable treadle or knee-shift mechanism not shown.

In order that the needle-thread may be relieved of its tension when the presser-foot is raised, the lever-arm |92 has adjustably secured thereto a cam-element |91 which is adapted to engage the end of a tension-releasing pin |98, Fig. 6, and shift the same endwise in opposition to a coil-spring |99. The endwise movement of the releasing pin |98 separates thetension-disks 200` of the usual tension device 20| supported upon the front wall of the bracket-arm 3.

Thread-handling mechanism The mechanism of the present machine for controlling the needle-'thread Nr is substantially the same as that disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 2,266,140, issued Dec. 16, 1941. The thread N'r traveling from the supply passes rst through the tension 20 a conventional nipper not shown but actuated intermittently by the cam 3| on the arm-shaft 28, thread-controller 202, threadguide 203, and iinally to the eye of the needle 65. The tension 20| is of conventional design and is operated as described in the previous section entitled Presser-foot lifting mechanism." The nipper used in the present machine is identical with that disclosed in my patent above referred to.

From the nipper, the thread Nr is led to the thread-controller 202 which comprises an arm 204 secured upon the split-collar 68 to which is connected the needle-bar link 10. To the free end ofthe arm 204 there is fastened a U-shaped member 205 having formed therein a plurality of thread-eyes 206. Operating between the two limbs of the U-shaped member 205 is a threadcontrolling arm 201 secured for limiting adjustment uupon the needle-bar link 10. It will be understood from Fig. 2 that the arm 204 supporting the thread-eyes 208 and the thread-controlling arm 201, as a result of the way in which each is supportedI have a differential action relative to each other, which action effects a periodic take-up of the needle-thread N'r. The action of threading thread-guide 2|0, then through av conventional tension device 2|| to a thread take-up 2|2, thence through thread-guides 2|3, 2|4 and 2|5 to the looper ||3. The take-up 2|2, best illustrated in Figs. 4 and '1, comprises a stationary depending U-shaped member 2|6 formed in each limb with thread-eyes 2|1, one of the limbs being slotted at its upper end, as at 2|8, to receive a fastening screw 2|9 threaded into a supporting rod 220 fixed in the wall 5 of the bed Vibrating between the limbs of the U-shaped member 2|'6 is the free end of a take-up arm 22| whose other end is secured by screws 222 in the frame 223 fulcrumed at its lower end upon the stationary rod |41 fixed in the walls 9 and I0 of the bed The frame 223 is forked to embrace an eccentric 224 on the lower main-shaft 44, whereby the free end of the take-up arm 22| is vibrated between the limbs of the U-shaped member in time to properly control the looperthread L'r.

Lubrication In order that the machine may be operated at high speed there is provided a lubricating system which is manually controlled to distribute oil under pressure to various bearings in the machine. The lubricating system illustrated forms the subject of my co-pending divisional application Serial No. 362,906, filed Oct. 26, 1940. In the machine chosen for illustration, Figs. 1 and 6, there is provided within the standard 2 a suitable pump 225-fitted with an inlet pipe 226 and two outlet pipes 221 and 228, pipe 221 supplying oil to the mechanism within the bed and pipe 228 supplying oil to the mechanisms within the bracket-arm 3 and head 4.

Referring to Fig. 1, one Wall of the standard 2 is preferably formed with a lug 229 apertured to receive a supporting extension 230 integral with the housing of the pump 225. The pump is preferably of the plunger type and comprises a cylinder 23| fitted with a piston 232 fastened upon the end of a rod 233 slidably journaled in a head 234 vented as at 235 and threaded upon the cylinder 23|. The exposed end of the pistonrod 233 is equipped with a knurled head 236Y which is normally disposed within a cavity 231 formed in the cover-plate |8 which closes the open face of the standard 2. The pump at the base of the cylinder 23| is formed with a chamber 238 having an inlet port 239 and two outlet ports 240 and 24|. Each of the three ports is opened and closed automatically by a ball 242 y active in response to pressure created by the 221l is received in the upper end of a hole 248 in the end-wall 8 of the bed I. The lower end of the hole 243 registers with an annular groove 244 formed in the periphery of the rotatable collar 245 xed upon the lower main-shaft 44. The oil supplied under pressure to the annular groove 244 by the pump 225 is led through a radial duct 248 in the collar 245 to an annular groove 241 in the periphery of the main-shaft 44 and from said groove through the radial duct 248 into the longitudinal bore 249 in the main-shaft 44. In this manner oil is conducted to the shaft-bore 249 which is closed at its opposite ends, the oil in the bore being dispersed to the various needlebearings 4|, 42 and 48, the eccentrics 92, |05 and |10, the crank-pin |21 and tubular pin |25 for actuating the looper mechanism, and the pinand-sleeve connection |01 and |08 for raising and lowering the feed-dog through a series of small radial ducts 250 in the main-shaft 44.

The upper end of the second outlet pipe 228 has secured thereto a commercial fitting 25| threaded into a boss 252 integral with the internal partition 28 adjacent the balance-wheel end of the bracket-arm 3. In alinement with the fitting 25| the boss 252 is formed with a port 253 of which the upper end is in register with an annular groove 254 cut into the rotatable collar 31 fixed upon the arm-shaft 28. From the annular groove 254 the oil is led through a duct 255 into an annular groove 258 in the periphery of the arm-shaft 28 'into the bore 258 of the arm-shaft. As in the lower main-shaft 44, the oil in the bore 258 is dispersed to the needle-bearings 26 and 29, the o and 44, respectively, and that the at intervals, or whenever the bearings are in need of lubrication, and that the pressure of the oil depends 'upon the force applied by the operatorA to the piston 232. It will be seen that by manually reciprocating the pump-piston 232, oil will be distributed under pressure to the bore of both the ,1 upper and the lower conducted to the various bearings by radial ducts. These radial ducts are purposely made of such a diameter that a sufficient quantity o f of the disk 260 is thrown to the outer inturned edge thereof and is directed between the raceways and onto the balls in contact therewith. Excess oil from the mechanism within the compartment23 in the bracket-arm 3 is returned to the lubricant-reservoir I4 by means of a return pipe 28|.

The needle-bar reciprocating mechanism is needle-bar pin 69 and the actuating link 'l0l through the bore of the latter. The stud is retained in the bore of the crank-pin 1| by the setscrew 11 which closes the outer end of the bore 262 in the crank 12.

It can be undertsood from the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, that I have provided a sewing machine lubricating mechanism which is designed to deliver oil under pressure to the various bearing points in the machine requiring lubrication said fulcrum-rod; a-tootheddisk oil will be delivered to each bearing, and' also small enough so that the system will be 'maintained lled with oil.- thereby to eliminate the formation of air-pockets in the systems. In

the embodiment chosen to illustrate my invention, the pump 225 employed is of the well known plunger type which is adapted to be manually actuatedv by the operator whenever it is necessary to lubricate the machine. It is to bc understood that any suitable type of pump may be substituted for the plunger-pump disclosed, and that automatic means may be used to actuate the pump at the end of a predetermined number of stitches.

Having thus set forth the nature of the in-- vention, what I claim herein is:

1; A sewing machine looper mechanism comprising, a thread-carrying looper; an oscillatory looper-carrier journaled upon a shiftable fulcrum-rod; means for imparting loop-seizing and -shedding motions t0 said looper about said fulcrum-rod; and means including a toothed disk and mechanism in cooperative meshing relation therewith for shifting said fulcrum-rod to carry the looper from sewing position to a more readily accessible threading position.

2. A sewing machine looper mechanism comprising, a thread-carrying looper; an oscillatory looper-carrier journaled upon a shiftable fulcrum-rod having end-sectionswhose axes are eccentrically located with respect to the axis of the fulcrum-rod; means for imparting loop-seizing and -shedding movements tothe looper about mounted upon one of the end-sections of' said fulcrum-rod; and a retracting-rod in mesh with said toothed-disk for shifting said fulcrum-rod to carry the looper to a position facilitating threading thereof.

3. A sewing machine looper mechanism com prising, a thread-carrying looper having an operative and a threading position; an oscillatory looper-carrier journaled upon a shiftable fulcrum-rod; means for imparting loop-seizing and -shedding movementsto said looper about said fulcrum-rod; means including a toothed-disk and a cooperating retracting-rod for shifting said fulcrum-rod to carry the looper from one to the other of its positions; and a detent for maintaining the looper in its operative position.

4. A sewing machine looper mechanism cornprising, a thread-carrying looper having an operative and a threading position; an oscillatory looper-carrier journaled upon a shiftable fulcrum-rod; means for imparting loop-seizing and -shedding movements to said looper about said fulcrum-rod; means including a toothed-disk and a cooperating retracting-rod for shifting said fulcrum-rod to carry the looper from one to the other of its positions; a detent for maintaining the looper in its operative position, and a locking device for precluding .the operation of the looper mechanism while the looper is in threading position.

5. A sewing machine looper mechanism comy shafts 2s oil then is crum-rod having end-sections Whose axes are eccentrically located with respect to the axis of the fulcrum-rod; means including a crank for imparting loop-seizing and -shedding movements to the looper about said fulcrum-rod; means for shifting said fulcrum-rod to carry the looper into threading position; and a locking device for precluding the operation of the looper mechanism while the looper is in threading position, said locking device including a latch adapted to enter a stop-notch in said crank when the looper is shifted to its threading position.

6. A sewing machine looper mechanism comprising, a thread-carrying looper having an operative and a threading position; an oscillatory looper-carrier journaled upon a shiftable fulcrum-rod having end-sections whose axes are eccentrically located with respect to the axis of the fulcrum-rod; means including a crank for imparting loop-seizing and -shedding movements to the looper about said fulcrum-rod; means for shifting said fulcrum-rod to carry the looper into threading position; and a locking device for precluding the operation of the looper mechanism while the looper is in threading position, said locking device including a pivotal-latch, a camsurface formed in one of the end-sections of said fulcrum-rod for engaging said latch and swingingl the same into a stop-notch formed in said crank when the fulcrum-rod is shifted to carry the looper intoits threading position, and a spring for disengaging the latch from said stopnotch when the looper is returned to its operative position.

7. In a sewing machine; the combination with inV feeding mechanism; and a reciprocatory needle;

of a thread-carrying looper substantially parallel to the line or feed and having an operative and a threading position; a looper-carrier journaled upon a shiftable fulcrum-rod normal to the line of feed; a looper-driving shaft normal to the line y of feed and connected to impart a variable moneedle; of a thread-carrying looper; an oscillatory supporting sleeve carrying said looper and journaled upon a fulcrum-rod; a looper-driving shaft; an actuating crank xed on said looperdriving shaft; a transverse follower sleeve frictionally clamped on said supporting-sleeve; and a pin endwise slidable in said follower-sleeve and operatively connected to said crank for imparting a variable motion to said looper.

9. In a sewing machine the combination with an endwise reciprocatory needle; of a threadcarrying looper having a blade terminating in a loop-seizing beak, said blade being provided with a thread-eye entering through the side of said blade and emerging from the top of said blade; and a. loop-spreader adapted to engage the looper-thread adjacent the top of the looper-blade and position the same so that the needle will pass into the looper-thread loop on its succeeding stroke.

10. A chain-stitch thread-carrying looper comprising a body-section iltted with a shank adapted to be received in a looper-carrier; and a blade terminating in a loop-seizing beakand formed adjacent said beak with a substantially vertical 'face andsa substantially horizontal top, said blade being provided with a thread-eye entering through thei vertical face thereof and emerging from the horizontal top thereof.

11. A chain-stitch thread-carrying looper comprising a substantially C-shaped body-section; one of the limbs of said body-section being provided with a shank; and the other of the limbs of said body-section providing a blade terminating in a loop-seizing beak, said blade being formed with a thread-eye entering through the side of said blade and emerging from the top of said blade.

12. A chain-stitch thread-carrying looper comprising a substantially C-shaped body-section having one of the limbs thereof provided with a shank and a needle-guide and the other of the limbs thereof forming a blade terminating in a loop-seizing beak, said blade being equipped with a thread-eye entering through the side of said blade and emerging from the top of said blade.

13. A chain-stitch thread-carrying looper comprising; a body-portion fitted with a shank adapted to be received 'in a looper-carrier; and a blade terminating in a loop-seizing beak and formed adjacent said beak with a thread-duct emerging from the top of said blade, said threadduct having a portion of its length adjacent its delivery and extending substantially vertically into the looper-blade.

14. A sewing machine having, in combination, a thread-carrying looper having an operative and a threading position; a carrier therefor; a fulcrum-rod on which said carrier is journaled having spaced eccentrically disposed alined sections about which the fulcrum-rod is manually turned; one of said sections having a portion of reduced diameter providing a shoulder; a bearing bushing in which the reduced portion of said section is journaled and against one of its endfaces said shoulder is adapted to bear; a member mounted on the end of the reduced portion of said section opposite to said shoulder and adapted to bear against the other end-face of said bushing to confine the fulcrum-rod against endwise displacement; manually operable means operatively connected to said member for turning said fulcrum-rod about the axes of said alined sections to carry the looper from operative position into threading position; and means for imparting loop-seizing and -shedding movements to said looper about said fulcrum-rod.

15. A chain-stitch thread-carrying looper adapted for use in a chain-stitch sewing machine having an actuated spreader movable in a predetermined path; comprising; a body-portion fitted with a shank adapted to be received in a looper-carrier; and a blade terminating in a loopseizing beak and formed adjacent said beak with a thread-duct having a portion of its length adjacent its delivery end extending into the looperblade in a direction substantially normal to the line of movement of the spreader-beak when the latter is advancing to seize the looper-threadloop.

FREDERICK F. ZEIER.

CERTIFICATE oF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,512,858. March 2, 19kg.

` FREDERICK E. ZEIER.l

It is hereby Certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, first column, line 11.1., for "partitions 28" read --partitions 20"; Page 5, first column, line 59, after "feed-rocker 9h. insert -..having; page )I, second column, line 27, for sifted read --shifted; page 6, first column, line 72, for "-uupon" read upon; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same :nay Conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

signed and Saaie@ this 6th day of April., A. D. 19M.

, Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) i Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

